Vehicle-tongue.



PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

J. L. HEGHT. VEHICLE TONGUE.

APPLIOATION FILED D30 6 190a [NVENTOR zj/M W1 TNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH L. HECHT,

OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO DAVENPORT WAGON COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

VEHICLE-TONGUE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed December 6,1906. Serial N0. 346,577-

TO aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JosEPH L. HEcHT, of Davenport, county of Scott, and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vehicle Tongues, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle draft appliances, being directed especially to draft members or beams which, under a broad interpretation of the invention, include both 'the vehicle tongue or pole and the reach beam.

The invention, which consists of a metal draft beam of built-up or structural form, possessing improved features of construction, designed to render .the beam unusually strong and durable, is disclosed herein as being embodied. specifically in a vehicle tongue intended for use more particularly on heavy wagons, farm implements, and the like.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a top plan View of my improved tongue in its preferred form. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional elevation on the line aa of Fig. 1, looking rearward. Fig. 4.- is a similar view on the line 5-4) of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional elevation on the line cc of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional elevation on the line cZd of Fig. 2, through the forward end of the tongue. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a detail. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a modified form of one of the complementary members from which the tongue is formed. Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the same on the line e@ of the preceding figure.

Referring to the drawings :My improved tongue comprises two longitudinal comple mentary members 1 and 2, preferably in the form of channel bars arranged with the chan nels inward or facing each other, which bars are spaced apart and firmly held in fixed re lation by means of two bracing straps 3 and 4, extending continuously from one end of the tongue to the other, and riveted at intervals to the respective bars within the channels as at 5, and riveted also together as at 6, at points between their points of connection with the channel bars.

I preferably continue the channel bars rearward as at 7 and 8, in order to form integral tongue-hounds, which are braced by continuations of the bracing straps, the ends of which are riveted to the inner faces of the tongue-hounds in the channels therein. This extension of the channel bars rearward to constitute integral tongue-hounds, I donot, however, deem essential, for in the use of the tongue in connection with certain forms of agricultural implements, they will not be necessary and may be omitted, and the channel bars made long enough only to form the tongue proper.

In the form of the tongue shown, the two channel bar's gradually converge from their rear ends to the front, so as to form a tapered tongue, and at their rear they diverge.

abruptly to form the tongue-hounds 7 and 8.

The bracing straps at their rear ends where they are continued to brace the hounds, are first extended inward toward each other as at 10, then a short distance rearward longitudinally, and finally they extend outwardly and have their ends fastened to the tongue hounds as before described, the longitudinal portions of the straps being riveted and giving support to a hammer strap 11. This hammer strap is in the form of a single piece of fiat metal plate or bar, twisted between its ends, thus forming a horizontal forward portion 12 disposed in a horizontal plane and extending above the channel bars, and a downwardly and forwardly curved rear sustainingportion 13, disposed in a vertical plane and having its lower extremity seated and rivet ed between the two longitudinal portions of, the bracing straps.

Situated beneath the overhanging part 12 of the hammer strap, is a horizontal supporting plate 15 adapted to serve. as a support for the doubletree, which plate is seated on the upper edges or-fianges of the channel bars, and has its ends bent downward along the outer sides of the webs of said bars to which said ends are riveted. The hammer strap and supporting plate are formed with alined holes 16 and 17, to receive the wagon hammer, by which the doubletree is pivoted to the tongue.

At their forward ends, the two channel bars are spaced apart by two pairs of opposing spacing blocks 18 and 19 seated in the channels of the bars, and between these blocks is extended longitudinally, the horizontal body portion 18 of a neck-yoke stop and lead-horse connection, the parts being firmly connected together by rivets 19 passing horizontally through them. The neckyoke stop and lead-horse connection is formed as a single integral structure, consisting of a late with fingers on its ends. which plate is folded on itself in such manner that an eye 19 (to serve as the lead-horse connection) will be formed on its forward end, the fiat body portion 18 will be formed where the two limbs of the plate are brought together; and a depending stop 21 (to serve as the neck-yoke stop) willbe formed at the rear end of the body portion, where the two fingers are brought together. The flat body portion 18 when the structure is fastened 111 place between the spacing blocks, will extend longitudinally and centrally of the tongue, while the eye at the forward end of the body portion will be disposed horizontally in front of the tongue, and the depending stop will project downward below the tongue, so that said parts will be properly related to perform their respective functions. Instead of forming the complementary channel bars of uniform height throughout as shown in Fig. 2, they may be of tapering form, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9..

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. Avehicle draft member composed of two longitudinal complementary metal channel bars arranged withthe channels inward, and continuous bracing straps extended throughout substantially the entire lengthof the member and connected at intervals with said channel bars respectively within the channels, and connected also with each other at points between their points of connection with'the channel bars. I

2. A vehicle tongue composed of two longitudinal complementary metal members, bent outwardly and rearwardly-at their rear ends to form integral tongue-hounds, and

connections between. said member for holding them spaced in fixed relations.

: 3. A vehicle tongue comprising .two longitudinal complementary metal bars spaced apart, and a pair of cooperating braces connecting said bars, in combination with a hammer strap formed independently of and connected between said braces.

4. A vehicle tongue comprismgtwo longitudinal complementary metal bars spaced apart, in combination with a hammer strap comprising a vertical sustaining portion fixed between said bars, and a horizontal hammer strap proper extending above said bars.

5. A vehicle tonguecomprising two longitudinal complementary metal bars spaced apart, in combination with a hammer strap consisting of a single piece of metal, with its 7 rear end disposed in a vertical plane and fastened between the complementary. bars,

andwith its forward end disposed in a horizontal plane and extending above said bars.

tudinal complementary metal 6. A vehicle tongue comprising two longitudinal complementary metal bars spaced apart, in combination with a hammer strap consisting of a single piece of metal twisted between its ends, with its rear end disposed in a vertical plane and fastened between the complementary bars, and with its forward end disposed in a horizontal plane and extending above said bars.

7. A vehicle tongue comprising two longimembers spaced apart, in combination with a horizontal plate spanning said members at their rear ends and adapted to serve as a doubletree support, and a hammer strap sustained by said members and having a horizontal portion disposed above the plate.

8. A vehicle tongue comprising two longitudinal complementary metal members, in combination with a lead horse connection in the form of a horizontal loop or eye provided with a rearwardly extending bodyportion, said body portion being arranged longitudinally and secured between the forward ends of said complementary members.

9. A vehicle tongue comprising two longitudinal complementary metal bars, in combination with a lead-horse connection, and neck-yoke stop, consisting of a horizontal body portion having an eye at its front end and a depending stop on its rear end, said body portion being fixedly sustained between the two members, with the eye projecting in front of the tongue and with the depending stop projectin below the tongue. I

10. A vehicle tongue comprising two longitudinal complementary metal channel bars arranged with the channels inward, in combi nation with opposing spacing blocks seated in the channels at the front end of the bars, and a lead-horse connection and neck'yoke stop in the form of an integral structure, embodying a horizontal body portion, said body portion being extended longitudinally between the opposing spacing blocks, and

means for fastening said parts rigidly in fixed relations. 7

11. A vehicle tongue comprising two longitudinal complementary metal bars, in combi nation with a neck-yoke stop and lead-horse connection, consistin of a single piece of metal with hooked en s bent on itself to form a lead-horse loop or ring, a flat bodyportion, and a neck yoke stop, the said body portion being extended longitudinally between the said complementary members and firmly secured in place.

12. A vehicle tongue comprising two longitudinal complementary channel bars arranged with the channels inward, and bracing straps connected at intervals with the respective channel bars within the channels, and connected at intervals with each other, in combination with a neck-yoke stop and leadhorse connection fastened between said channel bars at the front, a horizontal plate seathand this twenty seventh day of October, ed on and secured to the channel bars at the 1906, in the presence of two attesting Witrear, and a hammer strap having a horizonnesses.

tal portion extending above the'horizontal v JOSEPH L. HECHT. 5 p1ate,'and having a depending portion fas- Witnesses: s

tened to and sustained by the bracing straps. M. LoUIsE DODGE,

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my LEON ZOEOKLER. 

